Environmental Evaluation and Effectiveness of Lightweight Electric-Assist Tricycle Made of Composite Materials with Next-Generation Batteries

Abstract

Life cycle environmental evaluation of a new lightweight electric-assist tricycle has been discussed in terms of materials supply, production, use and the recycling/disposal stages. The effectiveness of such a novel tricycle is compared with existing transportation from the viewpoint of environmental impact. In the life cycle environmental evaluation, photovoltaic and in-vehicle fuel cell power generations are applied as an energy source for the electric-assist tricycle. Its transportation by light truck, passenger car and the well-known two-wheel electric-assist bicycle is discussed here for comparison. The environmental impact of the electric-assist tricycle, given its photovoltaic power supply, has a minimal environmental impact. The purchased electricity supply and in-vehicle fuel cell supply gradually greatly increased. The material supply and production stages of the electric-assist tricycle account for a large proportion of the overall environmental impact. In addition, the new electric-assist tricycle and other transport means were compared in terms of environmental impact. The factors affecting the environmental impact of each type of transportation device were shown. Then the optimum transport means is proposed suitable for the loadage and the time required in terms of environmental impact. As a result, our novel lightweight electric-assist tricycle was found to be effective for short-distance transport of a small amount of materials, as in a factory or for local transportation.